Our Trip to the Mountains was breathtaking.

We had snow when we got there and more came soon after.

We did make it to caves cove and took a lot of deer pictures, snow pictures and icicles pics.

It was truly a winter wonderland.

I was hoping to be snowed in for a few days, Just me and my hubby. And I did get one more day.

We could have come home, our roads were okay, but Alabama wasn't.

So we stayed at the cabin , in front of the fire with the biggest marshmallows, I have ever seen,

When I got home, I compared.

See Picture...

So back to the real world,

back to work now.

Seems like a lifetime ago now.

Put I do have many many pictures to remember our trip.

Stay tuned...

Coffee & Cupcakes
5 Year Birthday Celebration
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Last night we had a celebration.
The shop has been open 5 years.
I could not believe the people that came by to support me.
A lot of church family, friends, customer and just people off the street.
I am so blessed!
As you may know I was in a business with my mom many years ago, which ended.
It was difficult.
But this is different.
When I started this, I prayed and ask God to help, to show me if this venture was the right thing to do.
And as I went about getting insurance, power, and all things you need before opening a business, it seemed to just fall into place.
I look forward ( most days) to going to the shop.
I enjoy the auctions, estate sales, yard sales and thrift stores.
And Hubby does too.
The people, customer, many have became friend.
I look forward to seeing them, talking to them.
So THANK YOU for 5 great years!
And Don the donuts didn't cure my back pain, but it helped.
Thanks!

Obsession-the idea, image, desire, feeling, etc., itself.

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That is just it...

the idea of living in this house makes me happy.

The image in my head of Christmas in this house makes me happy. Actually I dreamed of how I would decorate this house before and after Christmas.

The desire of living in this house makes me all excited.

The feeling moving into a new/ old house is an adventure I want to take.

If hubby would only join me.

I think he would if there was enough $ to do it.

But our house pays off in a couple of years.

We want to be mortgage free.

It is a beautiful house in the snow.

When a friend called the realtor and made an appointment, I was excited to go with her.

It is across the street from the shop and I panic when the realtor shows it.

It was built in 1940, and has the original bathroom, which is actually in good shape.

I would redo the kitchen.

New cabinets,

and flooring.

It has 3 bedrooms, 3 fireplaces, original wood floors, basement/cellar.

I am in love!

Day 10- my last day!

One Confession......just one?

*************************************************

I have been having these feelings.

I need something to love and take care of.

I want him!

I want a Yorkie!

Terry is in hopes I will get over this feeling.

But he has been supportive.

And tried to reason with me.

Why do we get these feelings.

I really never had this feeling for a baby.

I wanted to give Terry a baby, but I was done with Jessica.

Would you call this feeling, my biological clock?

At 50?

Huh!

DAY NINE

TWO SMILEYS THAT DESCRIBE YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW!

Day 8 of Blog Post

3 things that turn me on

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1. Terry in a certain pair of jeans

2. The way Terry puts his hand on the small of my back to lead me into a room.

3. And YES, Wine will do it every time

Day 7 of Iresema Blog Challenge

4 things that turn me off

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1. BO ( PEW!)


2. guys dipping (Yuck!)


3. men that hit women ( Cowards)


4. alot of after shave ( are they trying to cover up BO)

Day 6

Five People who mean a lot to Me!

This Challenge was easy!

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My family

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I love each and everyone of them.

Day 5

Six thing I wish I had never done

1. I wish I had listened, to teachers, adults, my parents ect......

2. I wish I had not been the teenager I was....

3. I wish I had meet Terry sooner

4. I wish I had continued my education...

5. I wish I had been a better mother.

Day 4

7 things that cross my mind alot

1. No pictures, please

2. should I dye my hair?

3. Is there still some chocolate covered Christmas trees in the pantry?

4. What if?

5. Does she think I am a idiot?

6. I need a vacation!

7. I need a nap!

Day 3 of Irasema's Blog Challenge

(8 ways to win my heart)

1. Know me and what i collect. Thanks Barbara for the Christmas tree toppers!

2. Share your chocolate

3. Be Honest

4. Laugh with me not at me

5. help me hide the body

6. at least act like you understand why I enjoy crafting.

7. let me watch Soap Net, even though there is a football game on.

8. be compassionate to others.

Day 2- 9 things about me

1. I love to scrapbook but have no time. I have the urge to create lately and no time. I did squeeze out enough time to create these two pages since Christmas.

2. I want to please everyone. And sometimes it is a pain in the butt.

3. I get me feeling hurt, easy.

4. I can't forget when I get my feeling hurt.

5. There is not enough time in the day to get done what I want to do.

6. I am happy. I love my life.

7. I love soaps. I watch 4 out of the 5 that is on network TV.

8. I worry way to much.

9. I think way to much....what if?

Ten things I want to say to 10 different people

I found this challenge on Irasema's blog. When I read her post today, I realized just how liberating it could be to say whatever I want. So here goes, my ten things that I would like to say to ten different people.

1. Quit screaming

2. Another Football game? I Hate Football!!!!

3. I can't believe you changed your mind and didn't let me know.

I gave mine up to help you.

4. Why do you not use me?

I am here and willing

5. I don't care how much $ your hubby makes.

6. How can You love me, if I don't love myself.

7. Come on already, grow up!

8. Thank you for saving me!

9. Will you be my friend?

10. How could you?

*Warning*

Long End of the Year Post

Christmas has come and gone and it is time to bring on the New Year.

We had to wake up the younger boys at 8 on Christmas morning. I can't believe they were not up at 4, like I use to be as a child.

Malik is so grown now and most of his gifts were clothing,

and video games.

Toot wasn't to interested in opening his gifts after he saw the tricycle and bubble gum in his brother stocking.
He took that bubble tape to every grown up in the house to open it. We looked at it and gave it back to him. he wasn't happy till Malik gave him a bit. Afterall it was Christmas morning.


















We got Ky the scooter he had been seeing on the TV. But it seems he wanted everything he had seen on the TV and News Papers since about October. He kelp wanting to revise his Christmas list. So we didn't know from day to day what he really wanted. He just wanted it all!

*

We woke up to snow on Christmas morning. It was the fist white Christmas since the 80's. (and this picture was on Monday after, all was about gone) Someone James works with gave him this gator for the boys and they love it! Toot wants out to ride all the time. We have to charge the battery while he is in bed so it is ready to go again in the morning.

I bought this gingerbread house at a charity bake sale and Ky wanted to get at it all month. I bought it strictly for decoration. So I let him at it before I tossed it. It was so hard I had to help. The baby just ate the candy lane, it made him happy.

So tomorrow will be 2011 and I can't believe we can add another year in the books. My boys and family are growing, happy and healthy. We have so much to be thankful for. My little shop will celebrate 5 years in January.

Thank you 2010 for a great year. Now bring on 2011!

Christmas Play at Church was a great success.
Malik had a speaking part as one of the wise men.
Terry was in the Choir- ( no picture)
And Ky ( below) was a Trumpeter, he stayed on stage during the whole play and blew his horn.
We were so worried about him, cause he said he wasn't going to go out on the stage.
But he did and was great.
Everyone was great.
And there was a few solo's that we never knew could sing.

As always Christmas week was a blur. Christmas play at church, cooking and shopping and
all that goes with it. And as to top it all off a white Christmas for Alabama. It was so pretty and cold. Still winding down and having family time. Will post more later.

It is all in the packaging.

I don't care what is inside, if you make the package look good, I am happy.

This simple white chocolate with crushed peppermints. couldn't be easier to make, but it is the package that makes it outstanding.

So all these post have been about thinking about the forgotten friend.

Take a minute and share one of these items and make them smile.

Merry Christmas!

We all have one special Neighbor or Friend that needs alittle nip now and then. This would make a wonderful gift anytime of the year. So simple and yet so Elegant.

I like this idea. The tree is always so big and takes up so much room. Problem solved with this tree.

Not alot of time left, so how about this one.

Perfect for a neighbor gift too.

So cute and you can hang it on your neighbors door and run. HAHA

Alittle too cute....

Pardon the break in Neighbor Gift Post for a Wonderful Easy Recipe.

Brown Sugar Pralines

2 cups packed brown sugar 1/4 cup water

2 cups pecans 1 teaspoons vanilla

3 tablespoons butter

Combine brown sugar, pecans, butter and water in saucepan. Mix well. Cook over medium heat to 240 degrees on candy thermometer, softball stage.

Stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add vanilla and mix well. Beat until mixture loses its luster. Drop by spoonfuls onto foil.

Stop me!

Give your neighbor Pace Salsa and chips with this note....

Is the hustle and bustle of the season getting you down? We hope this helps you pick up the "Pace" this Christmas!"

Another easy one.

Just buy Syrup and pancake mix.

Another cut idea

Here is "7" reasons why you are "UP" on our list of favorites.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7. Fill in the blanks

Easy Pleasee.

So So cute!

Stop me......I love finding these ideas. This one is for yourself.

S'mores hot chocolate.

Dip the rim of your cup in butter and then graham cracker crumbs.

Put a 1/2 Hershey candy bar in your cup and heat your milk to add.

Don't forget to toast up ( in the oven) a few Marshmellow for the top.

YummY!

Enjoy, you deserve it!!

Neighbor Gift #3

Cover a store bought can of hot chocolate with scrapbook paper or wrapping paper and add a bow. Done

I just love these Neighbor gifts........stay tuned!

For the remainder of the Holidays, I will be showing you easy Neighbor gifts. I am so blessed and I think I can even do a few of these...So think about just one neighbor and see how it makes you feel.

Merry Christmas!

This embellished dish towel looks easy enough and you could add in a package of cookie mix.

What a nice gift.

I love to snap this picture each year, I know, I know, it is blurry. But I love the way the light shines.

This was the same time and the camera was set on outdoor setting. The lights don't show up.

And the little wornmy light......

Merry Christmas!

Crafting Friday

Today I want to spotlight my tree at the shop.

This ball was a silk cover ball. You remember the ones I am talking about.

If they got a snag, they raveled.

So I raveled them and punched circles and glued them on and added a bow.

I made cones and ornaments from hymnal pages.

This is a old Zinc lid that was trash. It was bent and could not be used. So I punched holes with the crop a dile and glued in a circle cut from a old Christmas card. Add embellishment and wala.

This tree looks so small in this picture, but it is 5 feet tall and really pretty.

I love decorating at the shop.

It is a dream come true.

And I can go crazy.

I would never put present in my bath tub...or would I?

So the decorating begins.....

I got a late start this year, by my standers.

A little bit at a time, in the afternoon after work or when the boys are at basketball practice.

So different.

But i am getting there.

Happy decorating.

Wonderful JBS 3rd Annual Vintage Festival in Tennessee on Saturday.

Got our picture made with Jenni Bowlin and bought some goodies.

Went to Franklin to the Antique store Christmas open House.

All was good, and if you have never been to Jenni's sale, you have missed it. It is Vintage and Junk and I love it!!!! June just watches me hunt and gather and drool over it all. She doesn't share my junk obbession.

Crafty Friday

Yes. I had the sewing machine out again.

I love these flowers I found on someone else's blog. So I made them my own. The no perfect- ness of them.

As you can see, I added a smaller version of the ruffled bows we made last week as a center.

I wore the small on as a pin and added a larger one on a gift.

The ideas are endless.

You could make a banner or a magnet or a embellishment on a scrapbook page or on the cover of a journal.

Think about it, make 3 and wait for the ideas to come. You could even add a blingie broach in the center . As a gift you could add the broach to the center as part of the presentation.

The endless ideas........What is your idea?

Have a great weekend!

Can you believe today is December 1st?

And I am struggling trying to find a way to guide my grandson in remember why we celebrate CHRISTmas.

I have a few ideas, but would love any suggestions.

But today as i was ready my morning devotional, I had to pause and remember the past week.

My hubby had lost not one but two uncles .

One ill for quite awhile and the other enjoyed a drink or two or three.

But did it make it any easier for their families?

Daddy would not be there on CHRISTmas morning.

There would be a empty chair this holiday season.

A void.

So my way of thinking, has changed this morning.

Yes, the brothers maybe better off but the families left behind will have a difficult CHRISTmas.

So as you enjoy this wonderful festive time of year, pause and think of the ones that has lost a loved one.